Closure on a rectangular container

ABSTRACT

A closure on a rectangular container with a square or rectangular cross section with the closure easily opened into a pour spout. The container closure can be resealed. The new container provides a consumer friendly container design, reduced materials consumption, high efficiency from production capacity and distribution view points.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a closure on a rectangular container for pourable consumer products wherein the closure is folded and heat sealed in a way that the closure easily can be opened into a pour spout for pouring out the content under full control. By folding back the slightly larger triangular pour spout area than the triangular closure opening, the closure is resealed air tight. The new container design provides; consumer friendly usage, reduced materials consumption, high efficiency from production capacity and distribution view points. State of the art containers for liquid products generally have an injection molded pour and cap re-close attachment made of polymer material heat sealed (for some container types comprising 4 injection molded parts) onto the container top panel in order to improve consumer acceptance.

The present invention is providing a controlled tearing path, between an in depth scoring line (beyond container food content) and an 180° folded Polyethylene coated paper board edge of two superimposed and heat sealed Polyethylene (PE) coated paper board panels.

In first index station the rectangular paper board tube structure is pushed onto an indexing mandrel, (rotating with eight mandrels) and in the second index station a film strip is cut off and partially sealed inside 0ne of the paper board tube structures longer mid closure edges. Third and fourth index stations are heat activated by a nozzle/manifold moving over the sealing area with a hot air stream and having multiple specific sealing patterns inside and outside rectangular paper board sleeve sealing area until heat activation finished. Between fourth and fifth index station, the two rectangular paper board tube structures longer panels (third and fourth fades) are pre-folded towards the cartons center (by two rotating folders), one panel including the film strip before the other panel and guided under two stationary guides before reaching the final fold configuration under a compression plate in fifth index station, having different levels (a pattern) with at least on integrated spring loaded element, for finally sealing the closure air tight & liquid proof. Sixth and eight index station are blind stations. In index station seven, the paper board structure with the sealed carton closure is pushed into an indexing pocket belt where the cartons later are filled (upside down) and finally the carton bottom is sealed. Both sides polyethylene (PE) coated paper board is normally used, but also one side polyethylene (PE) coated paper board could be used in combination with a hot melt polymer liquid sealant. When using a multi-polymer-laminate including aluminum foil, induction sealing could eventually be considered. Ultra Sonic sealing is a third option, that eventually also could be considered. By using plain paper board without polymer coating, hot melt is used for sealing the entire carton. For an aseptic carton version, skiving and hemming of the 5^(th) panel is required.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,899 provide a container with a permanent film element sealed into the paper board container bottom which is not intended to be opened, but providing a permanent bottom seal of the container. In order to push a container with a rectangular cross section onto a mandrel in a production machine, a tolerance is needed between the container and the mandrel cross sections; otherwise one of the panel walls of a container will be destructed when pushing the container onto the mandrel. Heat sealing four folded down film element sides to four container panel walls, require that the cross section inside the container and the mandrel are more or less identical, otherwise the film element will be too small and the film element will be under tension from the large container cross section and come loose, resulting in leaking containers.

According to European Patent #0511358 B1, a Polyethylene (PE) film element is placed onto a mandrel surface with the objective of folding a container over the mandrel and heat seal the film element inside the container closure in a way that the Polyethylene (PE) film breaks along two of the container closures straight paper board folding lines when opening the container. A major obstacle with this container closure design is that a minor liquid channel in the film element edge area where the paper board is folded 180° could not be heat sealed liquid proof. Substantial engineering capacity over a very long period of time could not resolve this problem and it was decided not to commercialize this container design. Distribution tests furthermore proved that the Polyethylene (PE) film does not withhold the tension on the film element throughout the entire distribution route and the film element fractures, resulting in leaking containers. Several stronger multi-laminate film element structures having different material types including different layer combinations have been tested without success. Consumer panel tests prove that containers with stronger film elements could not be opened as consumers did not have the sufficient strength to break the film element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to obviate the above-noted shortcomings & disadvantages related to containers known in the prior art.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a container which will be more economical.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a container which will preserve the environment in a better way.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a container which will reduce consumption of natural resources.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a container which will be easier to use for the consumers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a container blank folded to a sleeve including creasing lines and the 5^(th) panel heat sealed.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the opened container sleeve including heat sealing areas and a film strip, before folded, compressed and sealed.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the mandrel with two raised triangular sealing elements.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view with a transparent top view, showing the closure sealing areas including the film strip.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view with a transparent top view, showing the closure sealing areas with one mid closure longer panel edge overlapping second mid closure longer panel edge.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view with a transparent top view, showing the closure sealing areas with the film strip overlapping both interlocking paper board closure panel edges of the mid closures two longer panels.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of first opening stage of the closure with one pour spout panel side opened.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the container with the pour spout opened.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the container reclosed with the pour spout panel folded back and the closure resealed air tight.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

According to FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the opened paper board sleeve before folded and heat sealed with a part of both sides Polyethylene (PE) coated aluminum strip 5 heat sealed inside fourth panel face with a part of both sides Polyethylene (PE) coated aluminum strip 5, protruding same fourth face. Sealing sections 3 and 4 from third and second faces are activated by hot air and when folded together and compressed, becoming one solid sealed section 11 according to FIG. 4. Sealing sections 1 and 2 from first and third faces are activated by hot air and when folded and compressed, becoming one solid sealing section 10 according to FIG. 4, Second face sealing section 4 has an in depth inside interrupted scoring line and when opening the container closure, paper board section 4 delaminate and is torn off against and between the 180° folded paper board edge and section 4 in depth interrupted scoring line with paper board section 4 attached to area 3 of third face, and simultaneously first face sealing section 1 in depth inside interrupted scoring line delaminate, and attach to area 2 of face three. FIG. 2 ref. #6 is closures lower limitation surrounding folding line, ref. #7 is inside closure heat sealing area and ref. #8 is outside closure heat sealing areas. Ref. #9 according to FIG. 3 is a mandrel design with two raised triangular sealing panels oriented in the mid closures area. According to FIG. 4 is an isometric view with a transparent top view of sealing areas #11 and #12 of the container closure with polyethylene (PE) coated aluminum strip 12 heat sealed and providing third and fourth inside paper board face edge center areas with an air and liquid proof seal. According to FIG. 5, third face edge 13 overlapped by fourth face edge seal, is an alternative. The extended mid closure area could alternatively be closed by a film strip, sealing & overlapping third and fourth paper board panels interlocking edges (any interlocking edge profiles is possible) according to FIG. 6 area 14.

Hot air is blown through a nozzle/manifold having designated heat activating sections inside and outside the rectangular paper board sleeve closure area, before the closure is folded and compressed. Both sides polyethylene (PE) coated paper board is normally used, but also one side polyethylene (PE) coated paperboard could be used in combination with a hot melt polymer liquid sealant. When using a multi-polymer-laminate including aluminum foil, induction sealing could eventually be considered. Ultra Sonic sealing is a third option that eventually also could be considered. By using plain paper board without polymer coating, hot melt is used and for sealing the entire carton. For an aseptic carton version, skiving and hemming of the 5^(th) panel is required.

The present invention should not be considered limited to the particular examples described above, but rather should be understood to cover all aspects equivalent methods, as well as numerous structures to which the present invention may be applicable, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art to which the present invention is directed upon review of the instant specification. 

1. A closure on a rectangular container with at least one panel wall side coated with a heat sealable Polymer film layer having a rectangular cross section with a first pair and a second pair of opposite side walls connected by a single joint for storing pour able consumer products, and having a continuous folding line as the lower limitation of the closure and similar first and second faces provided respectively on the first pair of opposite side walls, as well as third and fourth faces provided respectively on the second pair of opposite side walls, said four faces each having free edges so as to protrude from the folding line, said first and second face both including folding lines extending from ends of the continuous folding line on each face to the free edge, with said first face overlapping said second face at the center line so that said fourth face is foldable over a part of said first and said second faces, the fourth face connected with said first and second faces by a permanent seal, the third face connected to said first and second faces by heat sealing, characterized in that a said third face inside sections heat sealed onto respective corresponding outwardly folded sections of first and second faces, said corresponding outwardly folded first and second faces having a scoring line, and when opening the closure, said first and second face sections seals to said third face remain unbroken and attached to said third face by delaminating from said first and second faces along the scoring line.
 2. A closure on a rectangular container with at least one panel wall side coated with a heat sealable Polymer film layer, having a rectangular cross section with a first pair and a second pair of opposite side walls connected by a single joint for storing pour able consumer products, and having a continuous folding line as the lower limitation of the closure and similar first and second faces provided respectively on the first pair of opposite side walls, as well as third and fourth faces provided respectively on the second pair of opposite side walls, said first and second face both including folding lines extending from ends of the continuous folding line on each face to the free edge, the fourth face connected with said first and second faces by a permanent seal, the third face connected to said first and second faces by combining heat sealing and a film element, characterized in that one part of the film element heat sealed inside the fourth face center edge area with a second part of said film element protruding said fourth face center edge, and when the closure is folded and compressed, the film element is heat sealed onto inside said third face center edge area, providing an air and liquid proof seal. First inside sections of third face heat sealed onto respective corresponding outwardly folded sections of first and second faces, said corresponding outwardly folded first and second faces having a scoring line and when opening the closure, tearing along said first and second faces scoring lines and delaminating in depth and tearing off first and second face section parts against respective 180° folded edges, and with said first and second section parts delaminating and attached to said third face. Second inside sections of third face heat sealed onto respective corresponding outwardly folded sections of first and second faces, said corresponding outwardly folded first and second faces having a scoring line and when opening the closure, a part of said first and second face sections sealed to said third face remain unbroken and attached to said third face by delaminating from said first and second faces along the scoring line.
 3. A closure on a rectangular container with at least one panel wall side coated with a heat sealable Polymer film layer, having a rectangular cross section with a first pair and a second pair of opposite side walls connected by a single joint for storing pour able consumer products, and having a continuous folding line as the lower limitation of the closure and similar first and second faces provided respectively on the first pair of opposite side walls, as well as third and fourth faces provided respectively on the second pair of opposite side walls, said first and second face both including folding lines extending from ends of the continuous folding line on each face to the free edge, the fourth face connected with said first and second faces by a permanent seal, the third face connected to said first and second faces by combining heat sealing and a film element, characterized in that first inside sections of third face heat sealed onto respective corresponding outwardly folded section of first and second faces, said corresponding outwardly folded first and second faces having a scoring line, and when opening the closure, tearing along said first and second faces scoring lines and delaminating in depth and tearing off first and second face section parts against respective 180° folded edges, and with said first and second section parts delaminating and attached to said third face. Second inside sections of third face heat sealed onto respective corresponding outwardly folded section of first and second faces, said corresponding outwardly folded first and second faces having a scoring line and when opening the closure, a part of said first and second face sections sealed to said third face remain unbroken and attached to said third face by delaminating from said first and second faces along the scoring line. At least one side film element heat sealed onto at least three inside faces in the center closure area, providing an air and liquid proof center closure area seal.
 4. A closure on a rectangular container according to claims 1-3, characterized in that two superimposed polymer coated paper board panels with a heat sealed area between an in depth scoring line (protected from the container content) in one said paper board surface and a second polymer coated 180° folded paper board edge, providing a controlled paper tearing path.
 5. A closure on a rectangular container according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the film element may consist of any multi-laminate material layer, having heat seal capabilities.
 6. A closure on a rectangular container according to claims 1-3, characterized in that at least one film element has a ruptured or imprinted film pattern, generally corresponding with at least a part of the closures breaking line areas, when opening the closure.
 7. A closure on a rectangular container according to claims 1-3, wherein the container paper board is coated with any polymer type including multi-laminate polymer films with an oxygen and flavor barrier.
 8. A closure on a rectangular container according to claims 1-3, wherein the closures mid seal comprising one longer panel edge overlapping a second panel edge.
 9. A closure on a rectangular container according to claims 1-3, wherein a film element sealing and overlapping two interlocking paper board top panel edges of the mid closures two longer panels (any generally interlocking paper board edge designs is possible).
 10. A closure on a rectangular container according to claims 1-3, characterized in that a film element is imprinted and sealed onto at least parts of two superimposed folded panel edges inside the closure.
 11. A closure on a rectangular container according to claims 1-3 12, wherein the pour spouts triangular panel (after first have been opened) can be folded backwards, resealing the closure.
 12. A closure on a rectangular container according to claims 1-3, wherein the paperboard blank has at least on in depth reversed interrupted scoring line. 